Dispensing device



Mirch 20, '1 928. 7 1,663,338

- L. GAGNE DI SPENS ING DEVICE Filed May 6. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1gl/wucm :56

l (}a ne @CQMM QD' L. GAGNE DISPENSI G DEVICE March 20, 1928.

Filed May 6. 1925 2 Sheets-Shee; 2

a f bom wA Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

ii rrEo STATES LOUIS GAGNE, F. WILLOW BUNCH, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

msrnnsme nnvxcn.

Application filed May 6, 192's. Serial No. 107,158.

This invention relates to dispensing devices, and particularly todispensing devices of that character employing a force feed forexpression of the lubricant or other substance to be dispensed.

One object of my invention is to provide a force feed dispensing deviceemployin an cl by expression plunger or piston operate 1 or plunger andreturning it to normal or ratchet feed mechanism of novel and improvedtype. a

Another object of my invention is-to rovide a dispensing device of thestated 0 aracter embodying improved means for housing'and protecting theratchet feed mechanism and permitting ready and convenient assemblageand disassemblage of its parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide -a dispensing deviceofthe stated character-in which the parts of the ratchet mechanism areso cooperatively combined and guided as to ensure positivene'ss andcertainty of action.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a dispensing deviceof the stated character embodying novel and improved means forretracting the expression piston starting position. I

' Still another object of the invention is to provide a: force feeddevice in the form of a hand oiler, of a. type adapted for dispensingthick lubricants, in which dispensing device a handle and an actuatingmemberare so related that the ratchet feed mechanism may be operated bythe same hand grasping the handle to manipulate the device.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and'arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully' described and claimed,reference being had to. theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dis-- pensing device, shown-in theform of a hand oiler, embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View thereof with the cover partially brokenaway.

, Figure 3 is a horizontal section throu h the bottom of the can,lookingupward tbward the ratchet feed mechanism, and show ing the partsthereof shifted from the position shown in Figure 2 to impart feedmotion to the piston. H

Figure 4 is a detail section on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through'the can and aportion of the handle and operating lever.

Figure 6 is a section through the bottom I of the can showing the handleof the retracting crank swung to operative position.

Figure 7 is a. section on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lower end of the threaded pistonrod.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure In the present instance Ihave shown the application of my invention to a hand oiler or similardispensing vessel 1, which comprises a cylindrical body portion havingat its upper end an externally threaded outlet neck 2 with which may beeither fixedly or detachably engaged a discharge spout 3. The spout 3 isshown in the present instance as having a threaded connection with theneck 2, allowing interchangeable spouts of diiferent lengths or boresizes to be used, and

also providing a type of can which may be filled through the neckportion upon detach ing the nozzle, whenever required, as will bereadily understood.

The receptacle 1 is provided with a bot-' tom wall or partition 4disposed at an elevation above its lower edge. The bottom wall 4 isshownin the present instance as being cup-shaped and having a. downwardlyprojecting annular flange 5 secured to the wall of the receptacle bybolts or screws 6 adapting the bottom wall to be detached when desired.The lower edge of this flange 5 terminates flush with the bottom edge ofthe can body, and forms therewith a stable support for the can, and thespace bounded by said flange 5 rovides an enclosing chamber or casing 7or the ratchet elements and associated parts of the feed mechanism.

The feed mechanism comprises an expression piston or diaphragm 8, ofsuitable construction, and embodying an internally threaded bushing 9engagin a threaded o crating rod 10, which exten ,s therethrou Thematerial to be dispensed is normall contained in the receptacle betweenthe top of the receptacle and the said piston or diaphragm 8. Uponrotating the rod 10 in one direction the pistonor diaphragm 8 may bemoving toward the outlet end of the container so; as to' force on eachworking mo- 7 a g p 1,ees,sas

tion thereof a part of the contents out through the spout 3. When thereceptacle is fully or substantially emptied of its contents, the piston8 may be retracted by re-' verse rotation of the'shaft 10, so as toplace the receptacle in condition to be replenished or refilled, and forthe purpose of permitting retraction of the piston, as above described,a suitable retracting device is provided, as hereinafter set forth. Aspiral spring 10 has its reduced end engagin the piston 8 and itsenlarged end dispose for contact with the top of the can so that saidspring will be compressed at the limit of upward movementof the piston,for a purpose hcreinafter described. 7

Arranged at one side of the receptacle 1 is a stationary handle ofconventional U Shape, comprising a vertically disposed grip -member 11and upper and lower horizontal arms 12 and 13 fastening the same to thereceptacle. Carried by this handle, adjacent to the upper end of thegrip member 11, is a guide arm' 14 provided with an eye 15, whichdetachably and pivotally receives the upper end of an actuating lever16. The lever 16 is disposed normally and substantially in a verticalplane parallel with the grip member 11, and is pivotally connected atits lower end, as at 17, with the outer end of an actuating plunger orfeed bar 18. This plunger or feed bar extends into the chamber 7 througha slot or o ening 19 in the adjacent side of the wall of said chamberand is slotted or bifurcated at its inner end to provide a pair ofsuperposed bracket arms 20 and 21.

The arms 20 and 21 of the plunger or feed bar 18 are each provided witha longitudinally extending slot 22 in axial alinement with the plungerbar and alaterally projecting triangular extension 23, each bracket ex-I tension 23 being provided at its outer end or apex portion with a slot2t arranged at right angles to the plunger bar and to the slot 22.

' The low r end of the shaft 10 is journaled for rotation in a bearing,opening 24" in the wall 4: and extends downwardly therethrough into thechamber 7 and through the slots 22 in the bracket arms 20 and 21. Thelower end of the shaft is bifurcated or provided with a transverse slot25 receiving a cross pin or key 26, which pin or key is disposed betweenthe bracket arms 20 and 21 and holds the shaft from upward or downwarddisplacement. A ratchet wheel 27 is ar ranged in a horizontal planebetween the arms 20 and 21 :and to rotate during a portion of its orbitof motion through the space therebetween, and this ratchet wheel isprovided with an opening 28 through which the'bifurcated end of theshaft 10 extends and with slots or notches 29 intersecting saidopeningand receiving the ends of the pin or key 26, whereby the ratchet wheelis coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith and to transmit workingmotion thereto.

In the back and fortli movements of the reciprocating plunger 18, theslotted bifurcated arms thereof move diametrically across the chamber 7and across the upper and lower surfaces of the ratchet wheel 27, theslots 22 permitting the plunger arms to move without interference fromthe lower end of the shaft 10 between which and the plunger a relativesliding motion is established by the provision of the slots 22. A headedpin or stud 30 slidably and pivotally engages the slots 24 in thetriangular bracket extensions 23 and carries a feed dog or pawl 31having a toothed end for operative engagement with the teeth of theratchet wheel 27 and normally held in yielding engage-' ment with saidteeth by a spring 32 suitably mounted upon the outer end of an actuatinglever 33. This lever comprises a pair of parallel arms pivotally mountedat their inner ends to swing upon the slotted" the plunger lever, inwhich are the pin 30 is free to slide in the slots 24. The slotted apexportions of the triangular bracket members 23 thus serve the function ofa. crank acting on the pin 30 to impart swinging motion to the lever 33and working motion to the dog or pawl 31, as will be readily understood,the slots 24 permitting the pin 30 to have a proper shifting motion insuch are of movement. When the plunger member 18 is moved inwardly thelever 33 will beso swung as to cause the toothed. end of the dog 31 toengage the shoulder of one of the ratchetteeth and impart a de-'termined feed motion'to the ratchet wheel 27 whereby a predeterminedworking moin the hand of the-operator the lever 16 will be enclosed andgripped therewith, so.

that the operator in handling the dispensing" device may, by pressure ofthe hand' engaging the grip bar 11 press the lever inwardly to impartfeed motion to the plunger 18, so that with the use of a single hand theoperator may manipulate the dispensing device as required to bring thespout into proper position for use and at mechanism to normal positionafter each tuation.

In order to prevent any possibility of casual retraction of the shaft 10and piston8 on. the non-working or return portion of the movement of theratchet mechanism, a detent 35 is provided. This detent comprises a dogor pawl pivotally mounted upon a bracket 36 and yieldingly pressed intoworking position by a spring 37, said dog having a channeled endportion- 38 embracing the edge of the ratchet wheel and one part ofwhich forms a' tooth for coaction with the teeth of the ratchet wheel.When the ratchet Wheel is turned by the feed mechanism in the directionto impart feed motion to the threaded rod and piston, the detent slidesidly over the curved-surfaces of the ratchet wheel. Atthe end of suchfeed motion of the ratchet wheel, and during the return movement of theactuating plunger and lever, the dog engages a shoulder of one of theteeth'of the ratchet wheel and holds said ratchet wheelagainstretrograde rotation. 'The bracket 36 may be secured in,

position by one of the awls or fastenings 6 which secures the wall 4 inplace. An air inlet 38' is provided in the wall 4 to permit air to passinto the receptacle 1 behind the piston on the feed motion of the pistonand to permit of the discharge of air from behind the piston w'lien thepiston is retracted or returned to starting position.

The wall 4, as stated, is detachably mounted in position so as toprovide for the ready and convenient initial assemblage of the parts andtheir disassemblage for removal, repairs or replacement wheneverrequired. The flange portion of such wall provides a chamber in whichthe ratchet feed mechanism is enclosed and whereby it is protected frominjury, while it is rendered readily accessible for cleaning or anyrepairs which may be necessary without the necessity of disassemblage.If desired a detachable cover plate 39 ma be provided to close the baseof the chamber vided with a flange 40 frictionally engaging the wall ofthe chamber 7 or otherwise detachably engaged therewith. When this"cover plate is applied it will close the chamber 7 against the access ofdirt or dust and further guard the parts of the ratchet mechanismagainst liability of casual injury. If-

desired aclosure plate orstri 41 secured to.

the receptacle by certain of tie fastenings 6 may be provided to closethe base of the slot r 7, which cover plate is pro-fv 9', to serve as aguide and support for the bar 18 and to further close the chamberagainst the access of dust, dirt and other foreign materials. 1

In order to enable the rod 10 to be rotated reversely for returning thepiston 8 back to starting position, after reaching the limit of itsoutward feed movement, as when it is desired to replenish the receptaclewith material to be dispensed, I provide a simple and convenient type ofcrank device for performing such retracting action. This crank devicecomprises a plate-shaped crank member 42 having a longitudinal slot 43provided at one end with an enlarged portion 44; The side edges of thewalls of the slot portion 43 are adapted for engagement With grooves 45in the limbs of the slotted portion 25 of the rod 10, the slot 43 beingof somewhat less width than the diameter of such portion of the rod, sothat when engaged with the grooves 45 the crank member 42 willbe'fixed'to the rod 10 and secured thereto against displacementtherefrom. This construction adapts the crank 42 to be applied-to andremoved from the slotted end of the rod 10 by a longitudinal slidingmovement, the widened slot portion 44, being thereby adapted to be movedinto and out of register with the rod end to permit the crank to beapplied, removed and properly fitted into engagement With-the grooves45. At its free end the crank 42 is provided with a channeled portion 46in which is pivoted one end of a combined handle and latch member 47,against the pivoted end of which acts a spring 48. When the cover member'39 is removed,this handle 47 may be disposed in the position shown inFigure 6, in which position said handle member may be gripped andoperated to rotate the rod '10 by means of the crank 42 in a directionopposite to its feed motion, when the ratchet w eel is free forretrograde rota tion, so that the piston 8 maybe retracted.

The handle 47 when not intended for use may be swung upward to aposition substantiall parallel with the crank 42, as shown in igures 2,3 and 5, in which position it will be held by the pressure of the spring48 and also in which osition its free end will bear against the ad acentside of the slotted end of the rod 10,whereby it will serve as a latchto hold the crank member from sliding motion and displacement. The dogs31 and 35 are of special construction in order to permitof theirretraction so that the ratchet wheel may be turned in a retrogradedirection. To this end, pawl 31 is provided with aretractin arm 31'- andinclined faces 31---31 agalnst which the free end of spring 32 may bear,while similarly pawl 35 is pro vided with a retracting arm 35 andinclined faces 35---35 against which the free end of spring 37 may bear.When springs 32 and 37 engage the inclined surfaces Lil of theirrespective pawls, the pawls are held in engagement with the teeth of theratchet wheel. for normal action. By, however,

pressing on the pawl arms 3l--35, the

pawls may be tilted to retracted position, in which springs 32 and 37will engage the inclined pawl surfaces Ell -35 and hold the pawlsretracted, thereby permitting free retrograde rotation of the ratchetwheel for retraction of the piston.

A tube 49, open at its lower end and closed at its upper end, is fixedat its said lower end to the bushiugt) and normally slidably andtelescopically engages the rod 10 above the piston 8. This tube travelswith the piston and is movable upwardly into the spout 3 on the upwardmovement of the piston. The function of. the tube is to closecommunication between the material containing space in the receptacle 1and the engaging threaded surfaces of the rod 10 and piston 9 in orderto prevent leakage of the material downward between surfaces and belowthe piston.

, At the upper end of the rod 10 is a re-,. duced portion, spindle orstem which is adapted to turn freely in bushing 9 and maintain thepiston in centered position, after the piston reaches the limit of itsupward movement and the threaded surface of the bushing passes out ofengagement with the threadedsurface of the rod. This allows the rod toturn freely at such stage in the event that the operator should continuemanipulation of lever 16 after piston 8 passes upward beyond thethreaded surface of the rod and prevents any possibility of the jammingof the threaded surfaces and mutilation of the threads. As piston 8nears the limit of its upward movement spring 10 is brought to bear onthe top wall of thereceptacle 1 and in the further movement of ,thepiston, and until the piston passes upward out of engagement with thethreads of the rod, this spring is compressed and serves" as aresistance element to hold thc released piston centered and againstturning or tilting. The spring also acts as a pressure element to holdthe bushing 9 against displacement from the spindle 50 and against theshoulder formed by the body of the rod at the base of this spindle, sothat the bushing 9 will be maintained in position for re-engagement withthe threads of the rod when the rod is rotated in a retrogradedirection, as previously described, for the purpose of retracting thepiston.

- From the foregoing description, taken in connection with'the drawings,the construction and mode of operation of my improved dispensing devicewill be readily understood, and it will be seen that the inventionprovides a, device of this character which embodies an expressing pistonand ratchet feed 1,oes,sss

mechanism of simple type whereby the piston may be operated to dispensedesired quantities of the material to-be dispensed on each workingmotion thereof. Also it will be seen that the invention provides aconstruction and arrangement of parts whereby the ratchet feed mechanismwill be securely housed and protected from dust, dirt and injury. Itwill further be seen that the invention provides a means whereby theactuating lever for the ratchet mechanism may be engaged and operated bythe same hand of the operator which grips the manipulating handle of thedispensing device, so that by the use of one and the same hand theoperator may manipulate the dispensing device and also actuate thedispensing mechanism, leaving the other hand of the operator free forperforming other work. It will further be seen that the inventionprovides means of a simple type for returning the expelling piston tostarting position when it is desired to refill or replenish thereceptacle, and in general provides a dispensing receptacle which issimple of construction, reliable and efficient in action and adapted tobe manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

lVhile the construction disclosed is .preferred, itis to be understoodthat I do not limitmyself thereto, as changes in the form, constructionand arrangement of parts Within the scope of the appended claimsmay bemade without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim: 7

1. In a dispensing device, a dispensing receptacle, a piston movabletherein, a threaded rod engaging the piston, a "ratchet wheel on saidrod, an actuating lever mounted-t0 swing upon the rod, a pin carried bysaid lever, a dog mounted on the pin for engagement with the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel, and a reciprocating plunger slidably engaging the rodand having slotted crank projections receiving and engaging said pin.

2. The combination of areceptacle having a lubricant containing chamberand a base chamber, a piston movable in the lubricant containingchamber, a rod in threaded engagement with the piston and extending atits lower end into the base'chamber, means in said base chamber forintermittently rotating the rod in one direction, an actuating devicefor said means on the exterior of the receptacle, and means in said basechamber whereby the rod may be rotated for returning the piston toinitial position.

3. The combination of a receptacle having a lubricant containing chamberand a base chamber, a removable. closure for the'base chamber, a pistonin the lubricant containing chamber, a rod in said chamber and in memesthreaded engagement with the piston and expiston to initial position.

i. The combination of a receptacle having a lubricant. containingchamber and a base chamber, a piston in the lubricant containingchamber, a rod in said chamber in threaded engagement with the pistonand extending at its lower end into the base chamber, pawl and ratchetmechanism in the base chamber for intermittently rotating said rod inone direction for advancing the piston, means for'actuating-said pawland ratchet mechanism, and means for said base chamber normallyinoperative and engageable with the rod whereby the rod may be rotatedto return the piston to initial position.

5. In a dispensing device, a dispensing receptacle, a dispensing pistonmovable therein, a rotary operating rod in threaded engagement with. thepiston, a ratchet wheel engaging said rod, a reciprocating plunger inguided engagement at one end with the rod, and a swinging lever providedwith a dog for actuating the ratchet wheel, said lever being ivotallycoupled to the guided end of the p unger for actuation thereby.

G. In a dispensing device, a dispensing receptacle, a piston movabletherein, a threaded rod engaging the piston, a ratchet wheel mounted onsaid rod, a lever pivoted at one end to swing upon the rod as a centerof motion, a dog upon the opposite end of the lever for engagement withthe ratchet wheel, and an actuating plunger having a slotted end insliding engagement with the rod, said end of the plunger having alateral projection to which the second-named end of the lever isslidably and pivotally coupled.

7 The combination of. a receptacle, a threaded rod therein having a.smooth-surforrotatingthe rod for returning the advanced faced centeringspindle at its piston in threa ed engagement with the rod, a tubecarried by the piston for closing. communication between the threadedsurfaces upper end, a

of the rod and piston and the portion of the receptacle above thepiston, and a coiled s ring disposed about said tube and between hepiston and top of the receptacle and adapted to be compressed betweenthe piston and the top of the receptacle at the limit of upward movementof the piston.

8. In a dispensing device, a dispensing receptacle, a piston movabletherein, a rotary operating rod in threaded engagement with the piston,feed mechanism for rotating the rod' in one direction for transmittingmotion to the piston in dispensing direction, a crank carried by the rodfor rotating'the rod in the opposite direction starting position, apivoted handle for the crank foldable in a plane and means for retainingsaid handle in folded position.

9. In a dispensing device, a dispensing receptacle, a piston movabletherein, a rotary operating rod in threaded engagement wit thepiston. aratchet wheel on the rod, an actuating lever mounted at one end to swingon the rod and provided at its opposite end with a dog for engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and a reci' rocating plunger havinga slotted; end sli ably engaging the rod and provided with a slottedlaterally projecting bracket to which the pawl carry ng end of the leveris slidably.

and pivotally coupled.

10. In a dispensing device, a receptacle, a rotary rod within thereceptacle, a piston in threaded engagement with and operated by saidrod, feeding means rod in one direction, a reversing crank connectedwith said end of the rod, and a foldingliandle carried by said crank,said handle being foldable into and out of the plane of the crank,

parallel therewith,"

to return the piston to for rotating the In testimony whereof I aflixiny signature.

LOUIS GAGNE.

